[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6569897,"mediaKeyId","3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed","parentId",3242692,"title","Prosper Portland presents FY26 proposed budget as community groups urge continued general‑fund support","audioSeconds",2930,"startMs",6805000,"endMs",9735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed&start=6805&end=9735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed/thumbnail_6805000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6569897/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Prosper-Portland-presents-FY26-proposed-budget-as-community-groups-urge-continued-generalfund-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569897-928204b0a2645cd21535b9e515650ce1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770896417&Signature=cCJbbX0Ef5SAm7syL~1WRhDtP0mbT1bMwmVYh3OGdhigLTf5kwWjixG~CBuR--afApZfu8vwBuS3BlPH04V7IJfw9IGGH0-dxVCK45yRYrB9EKz6IKV-j~twoqRxUhHfiCmrFTm-EbyAjZ~MJZpcr-zHkoQ02UkJtWBQ7oXMNI9vNV-tYDqiVlYHUunFjLHL4LawvjI5j5bZMGgIgys6g-gMpw1E9jLyNfbH0FGQvIGlQwPwjCzZcQ1UXGX69g1qutXySyGPH9LmInpkeHZ~fu5gOIjtqcd-uebRAzRvL9cWoms5Jn202Uebvx2a5ih3xnNseSFAZcM2faarEChE2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-05-09T01:19:06Z","article","Prosper Portland presented its proposed fiscal-year 2025–26 budget to City Council sitting as Prosper’s budget committee and outlined priorities that include continuing tax-increment financing (TIF) projects, a growing Strategic Investment Fund for lending, citywide small-business supports and workforce programs.

Board Chair Gustavo Cruz and interim executive director Shay Flaherty Bettine opened the presentation on May 20 and thanked community partners and the agency’s volunteer board. Tony Barnes, Prosper’s chief financial officer, laid out the agency’s calendar and explained the budget timeline: Prosper’s board approved a draft in January; outreach and stakeholder engagement continued through April; council was being asked to receive the proposed budget as the budget committee and final action by the board would follow tax‑supervising review.

Prosper’s proposed total resources totaled approximately $189 million in the documents presented, and about $153 million after removing the affordable‐housing set‑aside allocation — figures the agency said reflect multi‑year capital projects and funds that are carried from year to year for active redevelopment work. Tony Barnes described a multi‑year forecast showing active and sunsetting TIF districts with significant remaining resources, and six newly authorized TIF districts with limited first‑year increment as they stand up.

Shay Flaherty Bettine and Lisa Abwaf, director of development and investment, described how TIF investments and the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) will be used for loans, grants and redevelopment projects. Abwaf highlighted several district projects: Gateway action‑plan investments for street and predevelopment work near the Gateway Transit Center; the Williams and Russell redevelopment, a community‑led project that includes affordable housing and a planned Black business hub; and tenanting activity at district-owned properties such as Alberta Commons and Lents Town Center.

Abwaf said Prosper’s small‑business Repair and Restore grant program had distributed more than 1,500 grants totaling nearly $7 million to repair damage and stabilize small businesses. The agency also reported SIF activity: over the past two years Prosper closed 27 loans and invested more than $44 million to support businesses and commercial development.

Andrew Fitzpatrick, interim economic development director, detailed citywide programs funded with general fund, cannabis tax and other sources. He described the Inclusive Business Resource Network (IBRN), workforce investments with WorkSystems Inc., the new Office of Small Business, and film and events programs that drive local spending. Fitzpatrick said the mayor’s proposed budget included reductions that translate to roughly a 12% reduction in Prosper’s ongoing general‑fund allocations for community programming. He warned that without replacement of $2 million of ongoing general‑fund support currently proposed as one‑time, core programs — including workforce investments and small‑business technical assistance — could face steeper cuts in FY 2026–27.

A panel of community organizations and program partners testified immediately after the presentation. Speakers representing neighborhood prosperity networks, community development corporations, workforce providers and business associations urged the council to preserve operating funds that support: neighborhood small-business stabilization grants, workforce training for low‑income residents, apprenticeship pipelines, and tenanting and technical assistance for culturally connected business spaces.

Key testimony included:
- WorkSystems Inc. said the Portland Economic Opportunity Program (EOP) and NextGen efforts serve hundreds of residents annually with high placement rates and strong wage outcomes, and that proposed cuts would reduce services for people who face significant barriers to employment.
- Representatives of neighborhood organizations (NAYA, Rosewood Initiative, Apano, Historic Parkrose) described year‑over‑year work stabilizing small businesses, administering Enhancement and Repair & Restore grants, and building locally led TIF action plans in East Portland and Northeast neighborhoods.
- Portland Youth Builders and other workforce providers described training that leads to apprenticeships and jobs in the construction trades; providers said public funding is needed to sustain long‑term wraparound services and placement support.
- Business representatives, including Better Portland and Portland State University, described Prosper’s role in business support, workforce linkages, and campus and neighborhood redevelopment projects.

Several speakers urged council to maintain or restore general-fund backing for citywide programs such as the Office of Small Business, IBRN contracts and workforce navigators. Prosper staff said they would continue to look for efficiencies and to deploy revolving SIF resources to leverage private investment alongside public funds.

Ending: Councilors noted the depth of public testimony and asked staff for follow‑up materials. Prosper’s budget will be scheduled for adoption by the Prosper board after certification by the tax‑supervising and conservation commission; councilors also discussed the need for additional time for council questions and an anticipated follow‑up work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council PM Session 05/08/25","oneSentenceSummary","Prosper Portland presented a proposed FY 2025–26 budget totaling roughly $189 million (about $153 million excluding the affordable‑housing set aside), and community providers urged the council to preserve operating funds that support small-business stabilization, workforce training and neighborhood prosperity programs.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569900,"City Budget Office previews Insight Survey and Performance Portland dashboard; homelessness, cost of living and safety top concerns",1547,3503000,5050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed&start=3503&end=5050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed/thumbnail_3503000.jpg","/articles/6569900/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/City-Budget-Office-previews-Insight-Survey-and-Performance-Portland-dashboard-homelessness-cost-of-living-and-safety-top-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569900-71c41e9743cdca93f33694ea7271edb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770896417&Signature=HExPzvRR2-KjdZSLaFWjfSYgOu1-GRedBsboc7xHharRFII1k1cs1yfV1-HHVF2ubiFvHLSBSiW79RL3SBNK768tv0nQu8ysNLhPd0TZOUAqsp0nyw0ZkmAiWtGkaaO3MUqPbKS02-ewoxhruUcQulQEbbXkQq3pUg9IgJotzhL5iVCEsh7zoHkYwdkvUV0rD~JZjR0XC4GoQzk0CpcHi~6fzg6pPjT4fvBvj2ru2ENLDZ1lRbWtgPV0XecSoI6t68RvSD6buhdTGXetEmfa~Y0gRgITLenvnxPekdW82lTRDIZkI30sNANNSuUExiSNkPTM2BiJNnMqrzDO-3I2vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Budget Office staff on May 20 presented highlights from the 2024 Portland Insight survey and introduced Performance Portland, a new public dashboard of city performance measures.

Ruth Levine, director of the City Budget Office, said the Insight survey provides a representative snapshot of Portlanders’ views and complements other public engagement. Ning Jiang, the project manager for the Insight survey, described a hybrid sampling approach carried out with Portland State University’s Regional Research Institute and said the survey included focus groups to better represent groups that typically do not engage with government.

Survey findings and the dashboard preview showed consistent themes: respondents identified homelessness, the high cost of living and community safety as the top challenges facing Portland. Parks and natural areas scored highest for service satisfaction; street maintenance and cost of living scored lowest. Disaggregated results showed District 1 respondents reported slightly lower satisfaction on several measures, and respondents identifying as some communities of color reported lower feelings of safety when walking in their neighborhoods.

Lillian Nguyen, interim performance manager in the budget office, presented Performance Portland metrics tied to those themes. She flagged rising unsheltered homelessness, increases in renter households cost-burdened by housing, and mixed signals on crime: some categories have decreased while residents still report effects from prior spikes.

Deb Elliott of Portland State University's Regional Research Institute explained the survey methodology and weighting. She said the survey produced a 17% response rate, with an estimated sampling error of 1.49 (well within commonly accepted margins), and that the instrument was weighted to make results generalizable to Portland’s population.

Councilors raised questions about timing and the role of these tools in budget decisions. Councilor Smith asked for more post‑budget listening sessions, saying community input after a mayor’s budget would be more useful than only beforehand. Councilor Avalos and others pressed for improved public communication; the survey found most respondents prefer email and mail, while the city often relies on online portals and social media.

Councilors also asked about the survey’s section on residents who had moved away; staff noted only 37 respondents answered that part of the survey, limiting the ability to draw strong conclusions. The budget office said the survey and dashboards are one of several public‑engagement inputs and that staff would continue to refine outreach for future cycles.

Ending: The budget office said the full Insight survey report is available as an agenda attachment and that staff will continue to use the survey and Performance Portland metrics to inform upcoming budget discussions.","The City Budget Office presented findings from the 2024 Portland Insight survey and the new Performance Portland dashboards, showing homelessness, cost of living and public safety as Portlanders' top concerns and lower satisfaction in District 1.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569905,"Council holds first readings on multiple fee schedules; water, sewer and stormwater rates restored to earlier projection",557,2259000,2816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed&start=2259&end=2816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed/thumbnail_2259000.jpg","/articles/6569905/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-holds-first-readings-on-multiple-fee-schedules-water-sewer-and-stormwater-rates-restored-to-earlier-projection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569905-aa12244603c2e9f2bc2d9a5d110c0990/orig.mp4?Expires=1770896417&Signature=nAjKxOxehg9saBkUjLmOu6JzHAhn4QKU7J-43PBjeyyOd5CTgj8udiVw40F3cAyvVla92hm9BKPa9jxbUaLgZfky29QHRQK1ILh778Cs1N8ec6HNHhOmceX3ZnRvTXC7SHZ3S5XQuogmmn327MgdUlUR~njI3YPKLKZX500xryhb3vePLapcBU8Q8GDGR~YW-qXwvefNjvwa3EPLuHNy2FbOxMplf9ih0Klx4dy2-imOotBvoKFbvXKSzSOp5GoMgSQj2QXVU-fo9uVdVZKqvuf6WDx5qZjhkHL2aLRZyfx5H5JURZVv1rZ9eguO988tgNknkfDmCUVStep5s9Xw5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council conducted first readings on several fee ordinances affecting utility and transportation charges and permitting fees, and took no final votes. Councilors and staff discussed how committee amendments align with the mayor’s proposed budget and flagged one fee — the city’s transportation network company (TNC) fee — as out of alignment between committee action and the mayor’s budget proposal.

The council opened the consolidated set of fee items and asked staff to identify which, if any, could move forward without extended debate. Items included: revisions to the tree-permit fee schedule; water rates and water-related service charges for FY 2025–26; sewer and stormwater charges and rates; revised transportation fees, rates and charges; and updates to permitting and development fee schedules.

Jonas Beery, Deputy City Attorney and DCA budget finance, told council that, aside from one item, the ordinances before council are consistent with the assumptions in the mayor’s proposed budget. He said the water and Bureau of Environmental Services utility rates, parking, short-term rental and urban forestry fees in the ordinances were consistent with the mayor’s proposal, although he acknowledged staff had been checking the exhibits in the 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Councilor Greene and other members of the Finance Committee had earlier restored a higher combined water, sewer and stormwater increase than the mayor proposed. Councilor Greene said he offered an amendment in Finance to restore a prior projection — a combined 6.3% rate increase — after staff told committee the mayor’s direction to reduce increases would reduce bureau revenues by millions and harm asset-management projects. Councilor Greene said restoring the higher level increased average household bills by roughly 50 cents per month but preserved millions for bureaus’ capital work.

\"By restoring this, we're increasing the rate to ratepayers by 50 cents a month for the combined bill, but we're giving back the bureau the several millions of dollars that they need to do their infrastructure upgrades,\" Greene said.

A key point of contention concerned the TNC fee (the per-ride fee applied to trip origins in the city). Councilors noted that the version that passed Finance sets the TNC fee at 65 cents per ride. Several councilors said the mayor’s proposed budget included $1.30 per ride, and Jonas Beery and PBOT staff confirmed that the 65-cent figure is what left the Finance Committee and is what appears in the posted exhibit. PBOT staff said about 8 million rides originate in Portland annually and that the fee may be used for transportation programs; staff also said the fee historically covered the bureau’s regulatory costs but can be directed to other transportation purposes.

Councilor Zimmerman said the TNC fee appears to have been added to the mayor’s proposed budget without prior committee discussion; council president and others said the council will have an opportunity on May 21 (the scheduled budget deliberation) to consider changes and — if adopted that day — add an emergency clause to make the change effective immediately. Jonas Beery confirmed the TNC fee was the one fee misaligned with the Finance Committee’s posting and the mayor’s published budget, and he said staff were planning to bring it into alignment through the usual budget amendment process.

Transportation fees and parking meter increases drew extended discussion. Councilors discussed price signals for turnover, business access, and whether parking rate increases could encourage use of garages or transit. Some councilors signaled they wanted larger increases in some places; others worried about the downtown business impacts and the optics of raising on‑street parking prices.

Councilor Smith, representing District 1 concerns, asked whether tallies of sidewalks and drainage disparities had been considered in stormwater rate changes; Finance leaders said that was not part of the rate discussion but acknowledged the equity implications of different neighborhood infrastructure needs.

The council closed debate on the committee-level first readings and did not vote. Staff and councilors noted these are first readings of nonemergency ordinances and will return for second readings and final votes; the council set the second-reading vote for May 21 at 9 a.m.

Ending: Councilors agreed to continue detailed fee deliberations during the remaining budget process, with the TNC fee specifically flagged for reconciliation between the mayor’s proposal and the Finance Committee version ahead of the May 21 votes.","Portland City Council heard first readings of multiple fee ordinances — including water, sewer, stormwater, transportation, tree permits and permitting fees — and discussed alignment with the mayor’s budget, a restored water/stormwater rate increase, and a disputed transportation network company fee.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569912,"Council confirms Sustainability and Climate Commission amid questions about transportation representation and alternates",713,1493000,2206000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed&start=1493&end=2206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed/thumbnail_1493000.jpg","/articles/6569912/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-confirms-Sustainability-and-Climate-Commission-amid-questions-about-transportation-representation-and-alternates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569912-bd41f61e636bc781d304603756d35ccd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770896417&Signature=k4dasw3UtcB5xoAudc01uMHVltY47GTrv-~bXCo~216EizkJ-8zS~rVsfmSb6zLxLQ~x0VMHSVOvRq4Lk2Tpedc6Kk2kU3MGOcX6ud68~31PQTg~85FRygvbPEwmYBSdNhflj~vt3rAdmY7Tc5DfZ1uq6NAnAaKLKf4y1ZcR3MqGQKDk9z-sctCaFbKCtdojPGaoAsZkz~vymqkAztRy8UuKnH7ODGYFm7M3tOM3RZaib4J2A~xgBh49Gq1u8gsa1nNZVdoGhEpdRgpbJiA2aqppJQ5yzhUp-0mcm-S8JXCbQZFyYzdSnwyK5nYPUfcf12ewrpeU0A~mvVuoKzYYaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council confirmed a slate of appointments to the newly created Sustainability and Climate Commission in a roll-call vote that recorded 12 ayes.

Councilors said the commission’s composition reflected considerable outreach but flagged two recurring issues during discussion: few nominees had transportation-sector experience and the ordinance’s reference to alternates lacks a clear administrative process. Councilors and bureau staff said they will return with clarifications.

Ruth Levine and members of the City Budget Office introduced the item and acknowledged the work the budget office and sustainability staff put into recruitment and outreach. Elaine Giesca-Livingstone, the sustainability and climate commission coordinator, told council she could not confirm whether any nominees or their affiliated organizations received city funding but noted that affiliations listed in biographies were provided for identification only.

Councilor Novick and Councilor Murillo, who had chaired committee consideration of the appointments, told the full council the nominees were interviewed together and had been recommended as a group. Councilor Murillo said she asked nominees to indicate whether they would pay attention to the intersection of transportation and climate; most raised their hands, which reassured some members.

Councilor Kunal raised a procedural point about alternates. He noted that while the commission’s authorizing code names alternates among nominees, the code does not specify how or when an alternate moves to a full member. He suggested the bureau or the chief sustainability officer work with council to establish a practical process for filling seats and empowering an interim selection so council would not need to reconfirm alternates later.

Councilor Zimmerman asked whether any nominees or their organizations were direct recipients of city funding; staff—Elaine Giesca-Livingstone—said she did not have that data on hand but would follow up. The council’s broader debate touched on geographical representation; councilor Dunphy noted imbalances in district representation across the nominees and urged continued recruitment outreach for District 1.

The council accepted the committee’s recommendation and confirmed the commission’s appointments by roll-call vote (12 ayes). Councilors said they would follow up with staff on alternate appointment procedures and additional recruitment plans to boost transportation expertise and geographic balance.

Ending: The commission will begin convening under its council-approved charter and staff said action plans, membership processes, and coordination with the chief sustainability officer will be refined and returned to council as needed.","Portland City Council confirmed a new Sustainability and Climate Commission and alternates after committee review; councilors sought stronger transportation representation and clarity on the role of alternates.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569916,"Council confirms two appointees to Urban Forestry Commission after debate over enforcement experience",893,557000,1450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed&start=557&end=1450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242692-2ee4e16dc372e1ea651004fe7b9155ed/thumbnail_557000.jpg","/articles/6569916/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-confirms-two-appointees-to-Urban-Forestry-Commission-after-debate-over-enforcement-experience","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569916-6c9fa2e7b3d38e1a786cc89ffb2ac7b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770896417&Signature=lApoOTHOe3SGtGnS0xgp5EcqcyVYp1bl~YN0tcxxlMw4v8B~ZWoxW6qVxDz7wpN2Z5RInltRdeeLihWspV6aAY-bfXwb7xcmHPMQ6CguVxatinE3cHS-mnMgNYgjxzmbPeEPYOhpA6EDquwu3Z4N96Us7a3j1wDIfH8FTLTnUFwxVhzrQQC9izU~fenh3BXlo7pfBnUi9lh9M5uge16xJQKBMZvvGDKMxUcqyXwJBXrQCmVXYZN1mWc~SDzyaq0VdJ9wTLX7U-19Ol6CEwe5wJxtQ7ZQ20wYYuca-Mu7LlyCNt9eVQve2Qv91c94eI-Jv0hf3od9cfGv1KCOsZZmsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council confirmed two nominees to the Urban Forestry Commission after commissioners debated whether the panel should include members with experience in tree-regulation enforcement.

The council on May 20 (recessed meeting) confirmed Matthew Sanchez and Vesla Lee to terms ending March 31, 2029. Matthew Sanchez was confirmed in a separate roll-call vote that recorded 12 ayes. Vesla Lee was confirmed later in a roll-call vote that recorded 10 ayes and 2 nays.

The nominations were pulled from the consent agenda for discussion. Councilors said the candidates had been vetted in committee and praised their preparation. Councilor Ryan said he supported Matthew Sanchez but voted no on the other nominee after committee interviews because the second candidate did not demonstrate the same familiarity with the commission’s responsibilities during questioning.

Councilor Zimmerman raised a specific point of concern about enforcement experience, asking whether any current or prospective members had direct experience with the bureau’s tree-regulation enforcement program. Brian Landa, who staffs the Urban Forestry Commission, said he was not aware of enforcement-specific experience among the nominees and that most interactions would be with permitting rather than enforcement.

\"Given what I've learned over the last few weeks, that's a perspective that I'm going to be looking for,\" Zimmerman said, explaining he would not support appointments until the commission included more enforcement experience. He added that recruiting for that viewpoint should be a priority for future appointments.

Other councilors urged balance. Councilor Murillo asked colleagues to consider the volunteers' perspective: many nominees come to serve without prior bureaucratic experience. Councilor Knaell (Knoell) described the reason he pulled appointments from consent: the council should engage more deeply in recruitment to ensure advisory bodies have perspectives that allow their recommendations to be useful to the full council. He said he planned to vote for the nominees but wanted future appointments to broaden representation.

The nominations had already been reviewed by committee; committee records showed a committee vote of 5–0 to approve Matthew Sanchez and 4–1 to approve Vesla Lee. Council votes followed motions offered on the floor: Matthew Sanchez’s confirmation was moved by Councilor Novick and seconded by Councilor Knoell; the record shows the motion carried with 12 ayes. Vesla Lee’s confirmation was moved by Councilor Knoell and seconded by Councilor Novick and carried 10–2.

How nominees engage with the bureau’s permitting and enforcement functions was a recurring theme. Brian Landa told the council he did not know of any nominee with direct enforcement background but that appointees could have interacted with permitting as property owners. Councilors asked staff to prioritize recruitment to ensure the commission includes a range of perspectives, including people who have worked on enforcement and permitting operations.

The council took no additional action on urban forestry policy or fees during this session; the appointments were considered first-reading or confirmation items and are recorded as official confirmations in the council minutes.

Ending: The confirmed commissioners will serve through March 31, 2029. Council members said they expect future recruitment to focus on filling the remaining seat and on bringing additional perspectives—such as enforcement experience—into the Urban Forestry Commission.","Portland City Council confirmed Matthew Sanchez and Vesla Lee to the Urban Forestry Commission in separate votes following committee vetting and discussion about whether appointees should include enforcement experience.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Prosper Portland presents FY26 proposed budget as community groups urge continued general‑fund support

City Budget Office previews Insight Survey and Performance Portland dashboard; homelessness, cost of living and safety top concerns

Council holds first readings on multiple fee schedules; water, sewer and stormwater rates restored to earlier projection

Council confirms Sustainability and Climate Commission amid questions about transportation representation and alternates

Council confirms two appointees to Urban Forestry Commission after debate over enforcement experience